Remember me
Zascha Nygaard, the poster girl of the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, said it was growing harder to leave behind her young son and travel the world for competition.
The Germany-based Dane is preparing to defend her prestigious Longines Grand Prix title at AsiaWorld-Expo on Sunday.
Nygaard finished 13th in Saturday’s Longines Stakes, won by 2016 Olympic gold medallist Kevin Staut, who immediately phoned his 92-year-old grandmother on her French farm to share the good news.
The 33-year-old Nygaard acknowledged she had “not expected to see my face everywhere”, but that the recognition had made “me feel comfortable and welcome”.
Married to fellow show jumper Maxi Lill, Nygaard became a mum to Louke nearly four years ago.
Kevin Staut won the Longines Stakes on the second day of the horse show. Photo: Elson Li“It’s definitely way harder to leave him now than two years ago … but I feel he understands everything and I can explain when I’m coming home,” Nygaard said.